“This is a budget with cheap, election eve tricks of a $5 a week tax cut and two $75 quarterly energy bill relief payments. Meanwhile, Labor’s government spending-driven home-grown inflation crisis will continue.”

"I have witnessed good people on both sides of the debate forget their most basic human kindnesses in the midst of all of this. Is this really who we are?"

The list of pain for Australians, particularly regional Australians, after three long years of Labor goes on.

This hypocritical position—where wild dogs are seen as endangered, with no scientific evidence, and sheep are left to die in pain—beggars belief. Astoundingly, animal activists are dead silent on the mutilation and torture of livestock.

“This is a tricky budget from a tricky government that seeks to deflect blame for rivers of red ink while delivering nothing for regional Australia,” Dr Webster said.

Under the Albanese Labor Government, electricity prices are up 32 per cent, mortgage repayments up 41 per cent, gas is up 35 per cent and insurance is up 33 per cent.

The latest ABS data also shows that after almost 3 years of an Albanese Labor Government, Bread prices are up almost 20 per cent, milk is up 18.5 per cent, breakfast cereals 15 per cent and fish over 14 per cent.

There is someone to talk with in difficult times. I urge distressed farmers to speak with their partners, families and/or reach out to the Farmer Assistance Hotline 13 23 16, Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 – it helps to talk.

people come and talk to me about some of these issues and, the mining one, the wind farms and transmission line, of course. I've been incredibly active in that space, holding community meetings, going to community meetings across Mallee ...